Fred Hope | Feel The Difference - Slingshot Is Back!
Has Slingshot reclaimed its position as one of the most innovative foiling companies in the industry? In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, I spoke to Fred Hope, a world champion kiteboarder who now plays a lead role in product development at Slingshot. Backed by extensive experience in watersports, Fred takes new product ideas from inception through to design, testing, refinement, and market release. I asked Fred many of the questions people have been asking me about their one-lock foil system, and as you will discover, there is more to it than simply being able to put your foils together without screws. We also explored Slingshot's 2026 range of wings and boards, talking about their design approach, how they compare to previous models and why people should consider them when upgrading their gear. It's a pivotal time at Slingshot, with a range of talented designers driven to create innovative and compelling products that put Slingshot at the forefront of the evolving, growing foiling disciplines. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced wing foiler, there is something in this episode for everyone. If you are into downwinding, prone foiling, and dock starting, you will also enjoy the episode with a range of new products coming your way. Enjoy!
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The Fastest Wing On The Water: Mathis Ghio
Four-times Wing Foil World Champion Mathis Ghio joins the Foilers Podcast to talk all things speed, strategy, and competition. From training routines to race-day mindset, Mathis reveals what it takes to dominate the global wingfoil racing scene — and how he keeps pushing the limits of equipment design and performance. He also shares actionable insights every wing foiler can use to improve their speed and control.
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Unlocking Code Foils With Marcus Tardrew - New Foils And Much More
In this episode, I spoke to Marcus Tardrew from CODE Foils. Marcus has a 15-year background as a leading SUP and board shaper across multiple disciplines. Known particularly for his work with Sunova. Marcus was also the first Australian to compete in the Molokai to Oahu race on a foil in 2019. I met Marcus a few years ago when he worked at a foil shop. He is a fairly quiet and humble guy, but in this episode, I managed to get him talking. We chat about the latest CODE Foils releases and the background and philosophy of CODE Foils more generally. We also talk about the team behind CODE Foils and their design and business philosophies and reflect on the drivers of their success to date. There are some great people in this awesome sport, and Marcus is one of those very authentic and passionate foilers who is always great to catch up with. Enjoy the episode.
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Jerome and Leopold: Engineering Duotone Foils For Performance
In this episode, I spoke to Jermome and Leopold, who design foils for Duotone. We discuss their design philosophies and approach, as well as the evolving technologies used to design and build foils for wing foiling, downwind foiling, prone foiling and pump foiling. We also discuss why they don't currently produce foils for racing.We also discuss how they respond to the market and balance the need to deliver what the market currently needs or expects while also looking ahead to educate the market and introduce new approaches and designs for improved performance. Jermone and Leopold also discuss their current foil range and their applications. It’s a particularly interesting chat for those looking to understand the thinking behind foil design and the decision-making process and steps taken in transitioning from a product idea to the launch of a new foil. Enjoy!
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Dylan Henry - Foiling The Kalama Way
Dylan is a passionate waterman who distributes Kalama Performance gear in Australia and is the founder of Flow Foiling, a dedicated foiling school. He is also an accomplished athlete, participating in high-profile stand-up paddleboarding and downwind foiling events. I caught up with Dylan following the Koa Kai Triple Crown in Hawaii. We explored his background and foiling philosophy while also taking a closer look at the Kalama Performance product range.
If you froth foiling as much as we do, welcome to FOILERS. We are addicted to everything foiling and have created FOILERS to bring together a community of like-minded foilers to share the latest product news and tips/techniques to inspire us all on our foiling journey.
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